Adair County woman gets grant to finish degree

Stephanie Mahoney, Adair County resident and student at Southern New Hampshire University, was awarded $4,000 through the P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education Grant from the P.E.O. Sisterhood. She was sponsored by P.E.O. Chapter CA which has been a part of the Greenfield community since it was organized in 1901.

Mahoney is pursuing a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. She previously worked as a certified pharmacy technician at the Adair County Memorial Hospital and has recently completed a practicum. After obtaining her degree later this year, Mahoney will seek employment in a rural health care center to pursue her goal of providing counseling support to those who have been impacted by trauma.

The P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education was established in 1973 to provide need-based grants to women in the U.S. and Canada whose education has been interrupted and who find it necessary to return to school to complete a degree or certification that will improve their marketable skills for employment to support themselves and/or families.

P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) has been celebrating women helping women reach for the stars for more than 150 years. Since its inception in 1869, the nonprofit organization has helped more than 122,000 women pursue educational goals by providing nearly $415 million in grants, scholarships, awards and loans (as of April 2023). The Sisterhood also owns and supports Cottey College. Through membership, the P.E.O. Sisterhood has brought together more than half a million women in the United States and Canada who are passionate about helping women advance through education while supporting and motivating them. In addition to the educational philanthropies, the P.E.O. Sisterhood provides a framework of support and community for all members.